Francis l



(No Model.)

F. L. BECKER. TUNING PEG FOR STRINGBD INSTRUMENTS. No. 464,003. Patented Dec. 1,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS Ii. BECKER, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

TUNING-PEG FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,003, dated December 1, 1891.

Application filed June 19, 1%391. Serial No. 396,839. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS L. BECKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuning-Pegs for Stringed Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in tuning-pegs for stringed instruments of all kinds-such as violins, banjos, guitars, &c.whereby the tuning of the instruments is greatly facilitated and the strings retained in tune for a longer time than with the tuningpins heretofore used; and the invention consists of a tuning-peg for stringed instruments which is provided with a collar of larger diameter than the peg, a friction-band applied to said collar, means for adjusting the tension of said friction-band, and a stop device for the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the head of a violin with my improved tuning-pegs applied thereto. Fig. 1 is a top view of the two adjoining tuning-pegs and their friction-bands. Fig. 2 is a bottom View of a banjo-head with my improved tuning-pegs. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is avertical longitudinal section of one of my improved tuning-pegs.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents the head of a violin, Violoncello, banjo, or other stringed instrument, andB the tuning 'pegs of the same, to the ends of which the strings are applied in the usual manner. The shank h of the tuning-peg B is provided with an enlarged collar cl, that is preferably made integral with the peg or secured thereto in any suitable manner. The collar d of each peg B is encircled by a friction-band O, which is made of suitable metal and guided on the band in any suitable manner, preferably by means of a circumferential wire 61, which is applied into a central groove of the collar 62, and on which the friction-band is guided by means of a longitudinal center groove, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. The tension of the friction-band G is adjusted by means of a binding-screw b,which connects the outwardly-bent parallel ends of the friction-band C, as shown clearly in the drawings. One of the outwardly-bent ends of the friction-band C is again bent, so as to form a hook,and applied to a fixed pin 6, that is firmly attached to the head of the instrument, said pin holding the friction-band in position and preventing it from following the motion of the tuning-peg when the same is turned on its axis or from changing its position by the tension of the string. If desired, the friction-bands of two adjoining pegs B may be connected, so as to form a kind of bridge or abutment B, as shown in Fig. l, which bridge takes the place of the stop-pin c, and which is curved, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to adapt the friction-bands to be adjusted for varying distances between the tunin g-pegs. In this case the friction-band of one peg serves,

in connection with the connecting-bridge 13',

as the stop device for the other friction-band. lhis construction is preferably used for the tuning-pegs of violins or similar instruments, while the tuning-pegs having each its indi vidual stop-pin are preferably used for baujos, guitars, and like instruments.

The advantages of my improved tuning-peg over the tuning-pegs heretofore used are, first, that the tuning of the strings is greatly facilitated, as no pressure has to be exerted in the direction of the axis of the tuning-pin, which is necessary in ordinary tuning-pins to produce the proper friction between the same and the head of the instrument; secondly, that the creaking noise usually caused by the turning of the tuning-pegs in tuning is dispensed with and the perfectly noiseless adjustment of the same produced; thirdly, that owing to the larger diameter of the collar on the shank of the tuning-peg a much nicer adjustment of the tuning peg, and consequently a nicer adjustment of the string, can be produced, while no slipping of the pin by the tension exerted on the string can take place, owing to the increased tension which the frictioir band exerts on the large circumferential surface of the collar of the peg. hen the friction-bands are properly finished in nickel or silver plating, they impart, furthermore, a very ornamental appearance to the head of the violin.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A tuning=peg for stringed instruments, provided with an enlarged collar, a frictionband applied to said collar, means for ad justing the tension of said friction-band, and means for retaining it in position on the head of the instrument, substantially as set forth.

2. A tnning-peg for stringed instruments, provided with an enlarged collar 011 the shank of the same, a frietion-band extending around said collar, means for guiding the frictionband on the collar, a binding-screw for conmeeting the outwardly-bent ends of the triotion-band, and a stop device for holding the friction-band in rigid position on the head of the instrument and preventing it from following the motion of the tuning-peg, substair tially as set forth.

3. A tuning-peg for stringed instruments, provided with an enlarged collar on the shank of the same, a friction-ban d extending around. said collar and guided thereon, said frictionband being provided with outwardly-turned ends, one end being bent in the shape of a hook, at binding-screw connecting the outwardly-bent ends of the friction-band, and a retaining-pin attached to the head of the instrument, said pin being engaged by the bent end of the friction-band, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as niyinvention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRANCIS L. BECKER. Witnesses:

PAUL Gonrnn, A. M. BAKER. 

